The Story of Brown's

Brown’s Brewing Company was established in 1993, becoming the first brewery restaurant to exist in the Capital Region. The dream was one of company president/CEO Garrett Brown, who prior to entering the craft brewing industry, was a photojournalist alongside his father, Sid Brown. In 1990, the Brown’s purchased the 150 year old warehouse building in a then-blighted district on River Street and began a painstaking renovation taking three years to complete.
Starting out with a handful of products, the brewery has grown to include more than a dozen brews on tap, and more than 25 styles in its portfolio. The restaurant has evolved along with the brewery, utilizing local products whenever possible in a menu of house prepared recipes and dishes which utilize and compliment the beer we produce.
Over 300 seats, a riverside deck and beer garden overlooking the mighty Hudson River makes Brown’s Taproom a social hub for the community.
Brown’s Brewing Company was proud to be the first recipient of the Matthew Vassar Cup, denoting it as the Best Brewery in Hudson Valley. More awards followed ...a Gold medal for it’s Pale Ale, awarded at the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, NY and the prestigious Gold medal for its Oatmeal Stout at the World Beer Cup.
Community and the environment are an essential part of what Brown’s Brewing Company is about. The summer of 2007 Brown’s launched “Tomhannock Pilsner” a special beer created to help support the Rensselaer Land Trust, whose mission is to protect watersheds in Rensselaer County. Our Pilsner is brewed using waters that originate from the Tomhannock reservoir, and a portion of the proceeds from the sale of this beer is donated to the Rensselaer Land Trust to further its efforts in education and outreach programs on watershed conservation.
Brown’s Brewing is committed to re-use, re-cycle and conserve where it can. Spent grains from our brewery become feed for a local beef cattle farmer, and our hops are composted along with produce scraps from our kitchen. All glass, plastic, tin and corrugated cardboard is recycled.
In 2007, Brown's launched it's bottling production. Fall of 2007, Brown's flagship Pale Ale, Oatmeal Stout and India Pale Ale became available in 120z. six-packs at beverage centers and specialty stores in and around the Capital District.
Brown’s Brewing Company has plans to open a production facility in a converted 19th century mill along the Walloomsac River in Hoosick, NY.
Brown’s Brewing Company employs more than 65 full and part-time employees.